Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"About two dozen all told," Varric says after a careful look at the lad. "...got any names? I don't have the list on me," memorized, yes, but not on me, "so I might be able to offer a yes."

[Marian Hawke]

He chews his lower lip a little, thinking it over. "If my family made it, they'd have written already. But... there was another half-elf, I think. Bright kid. Something Hawke. Cindy would like her, if she made it."

[Varric]

Varric stops, giving Eli a hard look, as his protective instincts rise up and growl. "Stop bullshitting me. What's this about? Why did you really come to me?" 

[Marian Hawke]

Eli glances at Varric, then away, seeming to shrink back a bit, clearly frightened. "I wouldn't have come if I had another option. I don't have anyone else I can trust. I'm sorry. I won't ask about them again."

'Them?' Eli doesn't seem to notice the slip. 

[Varric]

"That might be enough, if you'd been asking about anyone but my kids," Varric says so very softly.

[Marian Hawke]

"You kept them," he breathes, and it's relief, mixed with a little bit of wonder. "Thank you. That's enough. I won't ask again. If-- if I need to find someone else to help Cindy I can." 

With that he turns, continuing on his way. Letting Varric choose to follow or not.

[Varric]

Like hells that's the end of this (can't be her, don't be daft)! Striding after he- him, he grabs for the mortal's arm. "We're not done here," he snaps.

[Marian Hawke]

The arm is skinnier than he expects to be grabbing -- which is all he gets before a piercing, feminine scream rips from his throat. Then he is gone, stumbling through a rip in the ice-cold air that wasn't there a second ago, leaving Varric behind.

Again.

[Varric]

Eight and two thirds of a minute later, the door to Helene's door (once Varric's guest room) is nearly ripped open. "I need you to divine the following: is the person I spoke to calling themselves Eli once called Marian Hawke?"

[Helene Dakesh]

'was', nearly corrects Helene, but then the implications of Varric using bad grammar hits them and they're moving, hastily grabbing supplies. "Are the bones sufficient? They are faster," they say rapidly, pulling supplies out of drawers.

[Varric]

Half-hour. Good, bad, mixed. A deep breath. "Is- is acting under the assumption that the person I spoke to calling themselves Eli being Marian Hawke a good idea?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene scoops up the bones, and a minute later, they all turn up Weal.

[Varric]

"I- I need you to scry. Will- can- I can't think properly. The twins. Can you- blood to blood?" Varric manages to ask.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Yes. It will take approximately one hour. This one can obtain a prophecy in ten minutes, but it will not be an image of the person."

[Varric]

An hour? No, that's- wait. Gods, think Varric. "Object. Locating an object is faster. Divine where to start, then we can search for 'sceleratis cursed gemstone.'" That part wasn't a lie, I think. Almost sure (who in Alydra's name is Cindy?).